General Questions and answers

What is the “optical” part of the screen?

The screen itself is made up of 7 high-tech layers that form an optical “sandwich” designed to enhance the image for optimum viewing – even in broad daylight. The optical part of the screen is within the specially designed film layer, which has different optical functions. The film absorbs ambient light extremely well from the top and bottom, which is why the screen looks black when observed from these angles.

How is the colour reproduction with Supernova?

The high contrast level of the Supernova Screen (up to 7 times higher contrast than standard front screens) greatly enhances the screen’s colour reproduction ability. With higher contrast, the image will have a better grey and white scale. A better grey and white scale yields better colour reproduction. And better colour reproduction means more colours/colour nuances. This feature is very important in many applications which require vivid, vibrant colours.

How do Supernova Screens perform in a dark room?

A Supernova Screen also works better in dark rooms than standard front screens. Compared to a standard matte white screen, Supernova delivers better contrast. This is due to retro illumination, where light from the screen image reflects back from the room onto the screen image. The difference in performance is not as significant in a dark room as in high ambient light conditions, however.

Are LCD, D-ILA or DLP projectors recommended?

All these projector technologies work with the Supernova technology. The function of the Supernova is geometric optics inside the film – no polarizers or partial selective film.

Is there a limit to the image resolution it is possible to display on the screen?

In reality no! In theory yes. The screen has a vertical resolution of 65 microns, but has no horizontal limitations. This means that the screen will be able to handle all imaginable current and future projection sources.

Can an old-fashioned OHP be used to project on the Supernova?

Yes, a good old overhead projector can be used to project images on a Supernova Screen. Use as long a projection distance as possible (must be higher than 1.8:1).

What is the recommended installation, with respect to room layout, projector, lens and screen?

Our installation guidelines are delivered with the screens and are available in the Downloads section. The screen size must fit the room size and the application. Positioning the screen to avoid massive sidelight is preferred. Projector position is perpendicular to the screen’s upper or lower edge or in-between or even slightly outside (5%) of the full image height (refer to the installation guidelines). See the installation guidelines or product specifications for the recommended lens throw ratio (LTR). Closer positions than recommended will result in hotspots. The longer the projection distance, the better. Required projector power depends on the application, location and type of use.

Can the screen be mounted vertically (rotated 90°)?

We do not recommend installing the Supernova Screen vertically. If mounted vertically, the screen will not be resistant to incident light from above and below, and it will have poor horizontal viewing angles.

Can the screen be used outdoors?

We do not recommend it. But with the right positioning and a strong projector it is possible to see an image on the Supernova outdoors (which would not be possible on a white screen). However since the screen is not designed for outdoor use, using it outdoors will void the warranty.

Can the screen withstand direct sunlight, as regards its optical and mechanical properties?

All front projection screens are put to the test when exposed to direct sunlight. From a mechanical and material standpoint there is no problem with exposure to sunlight. Direct sunlight heats up the screen, thus some thermal expansion of the assembled screen must be expected – the frame system should be flexible enough to allow this. From an optical standpoint, direct sunlight washes out the projected image on all standard front screens. On the Supernova the effect depends on the incident angle of the sunlight. A skylight window just above the screen is no problem. Sunlight coming in from a side window will have a negative effect on the screen’s performance.

Will water damage the screen?

Water applied as a damp or moist cloth will cause no problems (refer to Supernova cleaning instructions). The most important thing to remember is to dry the surface after cleaning. Immersing the screen into water, or pouring heavy amounts of water on the screen, e.g. as a result of leaking water pipes, might give problems and is not covered by the warranty.

What is the lifetime of the screen?

Accelerated ageing (by cyclic thermal treatment) shows no decay for a long period. The product lifetime is estimated to be more than 10 years under normal use conditions. Since the screen is quite new there is no “real-life” long-term experience with it yet. The main problem for projection screens is vandalism or physical wear of the surfaces. With Supernova’s special hard-coat surface we expect high resistance towards these types of problems.